Chapter 1

It was our eighth year of marriage when Nora told me she wanted a divorce. She was going to marry Brian Shaw, the guy she'd been pining for over the past ten years.

She said it would only last six months. Once Brian got his inheritance, she'd come back and remarry me.

She slid a bank card with 600,000 dollars across the table, saying it was compensation for me.

I took the card and pulled out the divorce agreement I'd already prepared. "600,000 dollars isn't enough. I want 2.5 million dollars, and this house."

She stared at me for a dozen seconds before picking up the pen and signing her name.

She thought I was being petty.

But only I knew that I was done with this marriage.

*****

When Nora said the word "divorce," the beef bone broth in the pot was bubbling away.

I turned off the stove and poured the soup into the sink. The beef bones tumbled into the strainer, and the hot broth splashed onto my hand, leaving a red mark.

She frowned. "Charles, do you have to act this way?"

I turned on the faucet and rinsed the grease off my hands. "Like what?"

"I told you, this is only a stopgap," Nora said, sliding a bank card across the table toward me. "Brian's grandfather put it in his will. He can only get the shares from the trust after six months of marriage.

"His half-brother is fighting for control of the company, and I can't let Brian get kicked out."

I dried my hands and sat down across from her. "So you're going to marry him?"

"Only for six months," Nora stressed, biting down on the last two words. "The moment he gets the shares, I'll dump him and come back to you."

I looked at her. She still had her makeup on, and around her neck was a silver necklace, the one Brian brought her from overseas last month.

She had stashed away the anniversary necklace I gave her in the bottom drawer of her wardrobe. She said it was too old-fashioned, not something she'd ever wear out.

Eight years was enough for a piece of jewelry to become outdated, and more than enough for a person to rot through.

I picked up the bank card. "How much is on it?"

Nora's shoulders relaxed. She must've thought I was on board just because I asked about the money. "600,000 dollars."

"What's the PIN?"

"Your birthday," Nora said, reaching out to touch the back of my hand. "Charles, I know this is hard on you."

I pulled my hand away. "600,000 dollars isn't enough."

Her fingers paused on the table. "What are you getting at?"

I got up and walked into the study, pulling a file folder out of the drawer.

When she first brought up divorce seven days ago, we had a huge fight. She stormed out and crashed at Brian's place for three nights.

When she came back on the fourth day, she was waiting for me to apologize, expecting me to cave like I always did.

But I didn't. I hired a lawyer, went through our assets, and checked out all the money she and Brian had been passing between them over the past year.

Now, I could finally put the agreement in front of her.

I opened the folder and slid the agreement across the table. "The house is mine. I want 2.5 million dollars in compensation. Any shares in companies we each own stay with us, and whatever debts we have, we handle ourselves."

Nora flipped through a couple of pages, her face darkening. "Charles, are you trying to squeeze me dry right now?"

"If you don't agree, then no divorce."

She stared at me, trying to see if I was being stubborn out of spite.

I poured myself a glass of water and drank it down slowly.

The kitchen was still filled with the savory aroma of beef bone broth, and the trash was stuffed with the fresh ingredients I'd queued up for earlier that afternoon.

She loved the beef from that place, so I drove forty minutes to get it and slow-cooked it for three hours.

Now the broth was gone, the meat was gone, and I didn't even care.

Nora slammed the agreement down on the table. "This house is worth 4 million dollars, and you want 2.5 million in cash. You're walking away with 6.5 million. How is that not enough?"

"Your company was yours before we got married, and you pulled in 15 million in dividends last year. This kind of money won't make a dent for you," I said.

"You went through my dividends too?"

"It's joint property. Why wouldn't I check?"

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

I pulled out a pen and set it down in front of her. "Brian's waiting for those shares. You don't have much time."

That struck her. She picked up the pen, but before signing, she looked up at me. "Are you seriously going to make this so messy?"

"Didn't you teach me to go all in when putting on a show?"

Her jaw tightened as she signed her full name, the pen moving fast and hard across the paper. The last stroke was so forceful it tore through the page.

Nora tossed the pen aside, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Happy now?"

I gathered up the agreement. "Once it's notarized, I'll submit the petition."

"You really know your stuff."

"I asked my lawyer."

Her eyelid twitched. "When did you ask?"

I didn't answer.

She reached for the agreement, but I'd already slipped it into the folder.

"Charles, you're not actually serious, are you?" she asked.

I looked up at her. "Nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Meet me at the family court."